Searching For pinner just stopped working!!!!

[BILL WARD]

so...I walk up to my pinner(itw amp vn4 L) after pressuring it up, making the adjustments to the arms/presser, adding glue to joint, getting everything right & holding my tongue just-so, and pushing the foot trigger . . . . . . . .

then N O T H I N G !!!!!!!!!!! push again--and again nothing---not a sound.... nada. the pressure needle doesn't even twitch. absolute silence(except for the thump-thump of my speedily mounting blood pressure!)

after only some 10 years and not a hint on anything going wrong(even tho I dont get to use it regularly[last time was 2mos ago] it shouldn't just stop!)....so I'm reduced to using hammer/nails in a hardwood frame(of course it must be done by Monday, what else?). I can do that, but I wont like it!

as I dont see myself tearing this thing apart(and not knowing squat about the insides thereof...) brings up the 64K question---->
who/where in the south east us(preferable IN Fla) works on these things??????? I remember there is a 'mobile' service(at rather HI fees) that makes a pilgrimage southward every year(and a guy N of Orlando who is apparently no longer in business)--so who does that leave????? anyone??? I know I could call the maker and ask but this is sunday am and I'm still PO'd about it stopping(and I'd like to be prearmed with info!)
thanks all

 

[wpfay]

Sounds like it's more to do with the foot pedal than the v-nailer itself. I would tinker with that to start with. Sounds like the air control valve in the foot pedal or whatever actuates the valve isn't functioning properly.

 

[Rick Granick]

Did you flip the switch that engages the plunger that holds the stack of vnails tight against the driver. When that is disengaged, everything else is disabled.
Just a thought.
Rick

 

[BILL WARD]

so Rick---where the 7734 were you when I needed you???? as soon as I read the post I remembered doing just that 2 weeks ago in a 'fit' of cleanup the machine!!!!!! can't believe I did that! really hate to be stupid! thanks

still leaves the 64K question---->
of who/where in the south east us(preferable IN Fla) works on these things??????? I remember there is a 'mobile' service(at rather HI fees) that makes a pilgrimage southward every year(and a guy N of Orlando who is apparently no longer in business)--so who does that leave????? anyone???

 

[CAGallery]

still leaves the 64K question---->
of who/where in the south east us(preferable IN Fla) works on these things??????? I remember there is a 'mobile' service(at rather HI fees) that makes a pilgrimage southward every year(and a guy N of Orlando who is apparently no longer in business)--so who does that leave????? anyone???

I think the mobile service who goes around the US is Ultramitre. You can see their site at
http://www.ultramitrepm.com/

We too are looking for someone to service our machinery here on the East Coast and it is not easy to find. Jim Burke used to travel out of Mass. to surrounding areas but he is retired. So our search continues.

Good luck in finding someone close to you.

Chavie

 

[BILL WARD]

ITW's answer to my email

I sent a email to itw asking for info on repair in the e/se areas.
1-doesnt seem that there is a repair 'network' for their products(even tho there IS a ready made market for same)--as no one responded with positive info; 2-not being able to get repair(based on this lack of service info) makes me less than ready to buy more product & less than willing to recommend their products. I just received form letter #2 with only a 'hint' of info in reply...what may be even better is that we now have company contact names as follows:

You have several options for your service.
1. We have servicing distributors (J&W Specialties[have attempted to contact him 3-4 times over 2yr period--no reply], Ultramitre, Frameware etc.) in several locations across the USA.(wouldn't it make sense to just have these on a seperate page on their web???) Some of these do come out to your location for servicing the equipment. Any time the service person has to come to your location can incur fees like travel time, meals and hotels.
2. Service the equipment yourself; we can walk you through most issues over the phone. This is the least expensive for you.
3. Send the machine in to one of our repair facilities (Pontotoc MS or Vernon Hills IL). This is the best for timely manner. We normally have a 2 day turnaround.
Please call me or Phil Thomas @ 1-800-322-4204 ext. 2417 and we will explain these further.

Rick Chapin
ITW-AMP
364 Stafford Blvd
Pontotoc MS 38863
Office 662-488-4542
Cell 662-419-1817
Fax 662-489-4154
Corporate 1-800-322-4204
Web site www.itwamp.com


so there it is..........at least this is a good place to start

 

[Rick Granick]

I have had an ITW-AMP VN2+1 for many years. It's a great machine, well made and very reliable. Like any machine, things do need service occasionally, but the modular nature of their construction makes them easy to work on yourself if you are at all mechanically inclined. AMP has good diagrams and exploded views, and they are very helpful on the phone walking you through the process. Most service is just a matter of removing a part and replacing it with a new one. (I've even replaced o-rings in the control valves back in the days when they would sell them separately.) The best service is preventive maintenance. Keep your system clean and supplied with dry, occasionally properly lubricated, air. There are many discussions about this on the G.
Rick

 

[CAGallery]

You have several options for your service.
1. We have servicing distributors (J&W Specialties[have attempted to contact him 3-4 times over 2yr period--no reply], Ultramitre, Frameware etc.) in several locations across the USA.(wouldn't it make sense to just have these on a seperate page on their web???) Some of these do come out to your location for servicing the equipment. Any time the service person has to come to your location can incur fees like travel time, meals and hotels.
2. Service the equipment yourself; we can walk you through most issues over the phone. This is the least expensive for you.
3. Send the machine in to one of our repair facilities (Pontotoc MS or Vernon Hills IL). This is the best for timely manner. We normally have a 2 day turnaround.
Please call me or Phil Thomas @ 1-800-322-4204 ext. 2417 and we will explain these further.

We had an ITW AMP for around 20 years and it was a good machine. We are absolutely not mechanically inclined yet they managed to walk us through most issues over the phone. When the machine needed a total tune up we had no choice but to send it back and it was a real hardship. It was very heavy and we had to get it up from the basement and pack it and the shipping was exorbitant. I think it ended up costing $1200 - $1300 total plus we were without a joiner for two weeks due to the packing, shipping, service and return shipping. That was one of the main reasons we went with another brand joiner several years ago rather than an ITW AMP.

If we had to purchase a new joiner we would probably go back to ITW AMP and would definitely go with it if they had local service.